Latch.



0. & A. SGHLATZ.

LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.24, 1913,

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

OTTO SCI-ILATZ AND .AUGUST SCHLATZ, 0F REPUBLICAN CITY, NEBRASKA.

Laren.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

applicati-tm ined February 24, 1913. serial no. 750,442.

To a'Zl rc/mm it may concern Be it known that we, Orro Sommari. and AUGUST FicnLaTz, citizens lof the United States, resi-ding at Republican City, in the `county of Harlan 'and State of Nebraska, have invented 'certain new and useful Improvements in Latch-es, of which the follow ing lis a specification, reference being 'had to 'the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in latches and more particularly to that class adapted to be used in connectionwitb hinged doors, gates or the like.

An object of this invention the provision of vva latch such as described, which will retain the door or Jgate either in a closed or open position.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a 4gate or door latch which can be operated to release the said gate er door from either side, when in its closed position.

A further object of this invention is to improve and simplify devices of this character, rendering them compa ativ'ely simple and inexpensive to manufacture, reliable and eflicient in use and readily operated.

With the abo-ve and other objects .in view,

this invention resides in the novel features of construction, formations, combinations and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter more particularly described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view taken through a building, showing our improved latch in plan; and Fig. 2 is a trans verse sectional view taken through the latch plate, showing` the latch in side elevation.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by similar characters of reference throughout the several views, the numeral 10 designates a fragment of a building provided with a door opening 11, to one side of which is hinged, as at 12, the door 13. The vertical free edge of this door 13 is formed with a transversely extending notch 14 adjacent to which is secured upon the Outer side of the door a latch plate 15. This said plate 15 is secured in substantially parallel relation to the upper and lower edges ot the door and has its forward end positioned flush with the edge of the notch 111 intermediate the ends thereof. The outer end of the latch plate 15 is extended at right angles thereto flush with the bottom of the notch 14. to produce the forwardly tapering arm 1G to which is -pivotally secured adjaycent its juncture with the latch plate 15, as at 17, a latch 18. 'This latch extends a suitable distance beyond the opposite sides of the door 13 and is tapered at its terminals, as clearly illustrated by the numeral 19 throughout the several figures of the drawings. The upper edge of the inner extremity of the latch 18 is notched, as at Q0, while ya similar notch 21 is provided in the lower `edge of the youter extremity thereof.

These notches 20 and 21 produce resultant barbs 22 and 23 for a purpose to be later disclosed.

The forward terminal of the latch 18 is offset at right angles thereto to produce an operating finger 24 by the means of which the opposite ends of the latch can be raised or lowered as desired. This finger Q4 also engages the upper edge of the arm 1li at its forward terminal limiting the downward movement of the latch relative thereto.

An aperture 25 is formed in the latch plate 15 adjacent the supporting arm 16 and in the same is secured a tension spring "256, the opposite extremity of which is looped as at 9.7 and passed around the finger Q4, while an intenmcdiate loop 28 formed thereon is secured to the arm 16 by a pin Q9 or other suitable similar fasteningdevice. This spring 2G serves to yieldingly force the forward extremity of the latch 1S dmvnwardly unt-il limited in such movement by the contact between the finger 241C and arm 1G. A catch 30 is secured to the interior of the building in the path of the latch 1S and consists of an attaching plate 311. twisted as at 32 and bent laterally to produce the catch proper 3B, in which is formed an engaging opening 34 adapted to receive the inner end of the latch 18 and by its engagement with the barb Q2 retain the door 113 in its closed position. l/Vhen it is desired to release the door, all that is required is to raise the linger 24e which lowers the inner end of the latch 18, consequently releasing the barb 22 from the upper edge of the opening 34, which permits the opening of the door.

A staple 35 is secured to the building 10 a suitable distance beyond the hinged side of the door. This staple 35 is arranged in the path of the latch 18 and in such position that when the door is forced outuuirdly to the limit of its movement, this staple 35, by its contact with the lower side of the barb 23, aises the outer end of the latch 18 against the tension of the spring 2G until the arch of the said staple 35 engages the notch 21 behind the shoulder of the barb.

23 from its engagement With the staple 35 andthe door can be readily closed.

'Fromthe foregoing disclosures, it Will be .manifest that a latch is provided which Will fulfil all of the necessary requirements of vsuch a device, and While the same is illus-v trated and described as being yusedin con` nection With adoor, We do not desire to be limited to such use, but intend to use they same in connection with gates or other suitable objects to Which the various parts thereof Will adapt themselves. It should be further understood in this connection that various minor changes in the specific details of construction can be resorted to Within the scope of theappended claims, Without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention. Y

Having thus fully described this invention, whatl We claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is l. In a device of t-he character described, the combination With a latch plat-e, of an arm formed thereon and extending perpendicularly thereto, a latch pivoted to said arm, said latch extending parallel to the arm and perpendicularly to the plate, a lateral finger formed upon one end of the latch and arranged to engage the upper edge of the arm, a spring'secured to the latch plate, arm and finger for normally forcing the finger into engagement With the arm and retaining the latch in its normal position, the said latch being notched at its opposite ends and opposite edges to form barbs, and catches for engagement 'With the barbs.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination With a latch plate having alaterally extending arm thereon, disposed perpendicular thereof;of a latch pivoted intermediate of its ends tothe laterally extending arm ofthe latch plate vand projecting on both sides ofthe; latter, an angular. finger formed on one Iend vof said latch and adapted to rest in engagementwith the upper edge of saidarm, at the outer end of the latter to llimit the movement of said latch in one direction, and spring means in connection With said latch plate and finger to normally retain said latchin aposition to disposerthe angularv finger thereon in engagement with the arm on the latch plate, said latch being notched at its ends to form barbs, whereby a locking means is provided thereon.

In Atestimony whereof We hereunto affix our signatures in the presence of two Witnesses. Y

OTTO SCI-ILATZ. AUGUST SCI-ILATZ. 1.Witnesses Y C. A. LUUCE,

O. D. HANsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

